Hanging Laundry Basket

ABSTRACT

A hanging laundry bag comprising foldable enclosure having hanger sleeves attached to the longer sides thereof accepting conventional wire or wood hangers and suspending the bag from a hanger rod. The bag also includes two straps for suspending the bag from hooks or for easily transporting the bag when it is full of laundry. The bag may further include magnetic fasteners for retaining the bag in a closed position. The bag may also include a removable liner for segregating damp laundry from the remaining portions of the bag, and any number of pockets within the compartment for securing smaller items.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/764,799, filed Feb. 3, 2006.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to storage articles and, more particularly, toward an hanging apparatus for storing and transporting laundry.

2. Description of the Related Art

Dirty laundry, when not simply left on the floor or deposited into a hamper, is often placed into a conventional laundry bag formed by stitching together two pieces of fabric to form an enclosure having an opening at one end, and a drawstring provided in the hemline of the opening. These laundry bags are difficult to use because the drawstring is difficult to manipulate as it is subject to twisting, knotting, or breaking. In addition, the drawstring is often painful to a user trying to tote a full bag of laundry, particular if the laundry is damp or wet. The laundry bags are also difficult to store, as the drawstring will automatically close the opening of the bag if it is placed on a hook. These conventional systems also lack the ability to be suspended from a closet hanging rod, and thus must be placed on the floor. Finally, these laundry bags are usually far from aesthetically pleasing.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore a principal object and advantage of the present invention to provide a laundry bag that is easily suspended from a hook or closet rod.

It is a further object and advantage of the present invention to provide a laundry bag that is easy to use.

It is an additional object and advantage of the present invention to provide a laundry bag that is easy to transport.

It is another object and advantage of the present invention to provide a laundry bag that is aesthetically pleasing.

It is yet a further object and advantage of the present invention to provide a laundry bag that remains in an open position.

In accordance with the foregoing objects and advantages, the present invention provides a hanging laundry bag comprising a laundry enclosure having hanger sleeves attached thereto for accepting conventional hangers and suspending the bag from a hanger rod. In addition, the hanger sleeves allow the bag to be placed in an open configuration while the bag is suspended from a rod via the hangers. The bag may further include fasteners for retaining the bag in a closed position, and straps for easily transporting the bag. The bag may also include a removable liner for segregating damp laundry from the remaining portions of the bag, and any number of pockets within the compartment for securing smaller items.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be more fully understood and appreciated by reading the following Detailed Description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is perspective view of an embodiment of present invention in the open position with the hanger sleeves in upward position and the tote straps placed around hanger neck opening.

FIG. 2 is a side view of another embodiment of the present invention in the open position with internal pocket and magnetic snap closures visible.

FIG. 3 is a front view of an embodiment of the present invention in the closed position with one hanger sleeve in upward position and tote straps placed around hanger neck opening, and second hanger sleeve in downward position.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention in the closed position with both hanger sleeves in downward position and the tote straps in use.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a removable liner for a hanging bag according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout, there is seen in FIG. 1 a handing laundry bag 10 according to the present invention. Bag 10 provides a stylish and discreet way to store and transport clothing, such as for laundering. Bag 10 is adapted to be hanging in a closet via a standard clothes hanger or on a hook.

Bag 10 generally comprises a body 12 formed from a flexible material, such as fabric, which may be printed with pleasing designs. Body 12 preferably comprises a front 14 and a back 16 attached together using a bottom seam 18 and two seams 20 and 22 and folded to form planar sides, although separate panels may be used in lieu of seams 18, 20 and 22 to form discrete sides. Along these lines front 14, back 16, bottom 18, and any sides may be formed from separate pieces of fabric that are stitched together, or (to the extent possible) fewer pieces that includes folds rather than seams. Front 14, back 16, bottom seam 18, and side seams 20 and 22 thus form an enclosure 24 that is accessible via a bag opening 26 or mouth at the top of body 12. Side seams 20 and 22 are preferably positioned at an intermediate location to encourage easy folding of the material used to construct bag 10.

Bag 10 further comprises two hanger sleeves 28 and 30 interconnected to the upper edge of front 14 and back 16, respectively, proximate to opening 26. Hanger sleeves 28 and 30 comprise triangularly shaped first members 32 and 34 that are each attached along one side to the upper edge of front 14 and back 16, respectively, to form a pouch. Hanger sleeves 28 and 30 further comprise triangularly shaped second members 36 and 38 that are attached to the remaining sides of first members 32 and 34, thereby leaving a first, wide aperture 40 between each of first and second members 32 and 36 and first and second members 34 and 38 along the upper edge of enclosure 24. Each of hanger sleeves 28 and 30 also include a second, narrow aperture 42 at their free, pointed ends. Those of skill in the art will instantly recognize that hanger sleeves 28 and 30 should be dimensioned to accommodate conventional wire or wood hangers that are inserted through wide aperture 40 and positioned such that the hook portion of the hanger extends through narrow aperture 42. As a result, as seen in FIG. 2, bag 10 may be suspended from a closet hanger pole 44 by conventional hangers 46 and 48 positioned within hanger sleeves 28 and 30, respectively.

Bag further comprises two straps 50 and 52, each of which are attached at both ends to each of front 14 and back 16, respectively, proximate to bag opening 26, thereby forming handles for carrying bag 10. In addition, bag 10 may be suspended from a pole or hook using one or both of straps 50 and 52, as seen in FIG. 4.

Referring to FIG. 2, bag 10 further comprises two sets of fasteners 54 and 56 attached along the inner surfaces of front 14 and back 16 proximate to bag opening 26. Fasteners preferably comprise magnetized snaps that may be repeatedly engaged and disengaged, thereby allowing bag opening 26 to be selectively opened or closed by a user, and held firmly closed when fasteners 54 and 56 are in magnetic and/or snap engagement. Bag 10 may also include one or more pockets 60 attached within enclosure 24 to the inner surface of front 14 or back 16.

A removable support sleeve 62 comprised of two layers of fabric attached to each other along their peripheral edges to form a pouch containing a rigid member 64 therein, such as a piece of plastic or cardboard. Sleeve 62 may be provided separately or affixed inside bag 10. Those of skill in the art will recognize that sleeve 62 may also be formed using the bottom of front 14 or back 16 as one of the layers of fabric, thereby forming a permanent support positioned in the bottom of bag 10. Alternatively, only three sides of sleeve 62 may be closed to allow removal of rigid member 64 as desired.

Bag 10 may additionally comprise a removable insert 66 having a front 68, a back 70, two sides 72 and 74, and two handles 76 and 78 that correspond to those elements of bag 10. Insert 66 is preferably formed from a water-resilient or waterproof material, such as coated nylon, thereby providing a moisture barrier between and damp laundry placed in bag 10 and the fabric from which bag 10 is constructed. Insert 66 may be provided with nearly the same dimension as bag 10, or with less height to allow for additional laundry to be placed in bag 10 under insert 66. Insert 66 may also include fasteners 80 and 82 corresponding to fasteners 54 and 56 to allow insert 66 to be selectively affixed within or disengaged from bag 10.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, bag 10 is provided a width of eighteen inches and a depth of six inches to easily fit into standard closets. The height of bag 10 may preferably vary from ten inches to eighteen inches. First members 32 and 34 of hanger sleeves 28 and 30 are preferably ten and a half inches between narrow aperture 42 and wide aperture 40, while second members 36 and 38 of hanger sleeves 28 and 30 are eight and a half inches from narrow aperture 42 and wide aperture 40 to accommodate standard wire clothes hangers.

Bag 10 may be assembled by separately assembling body 12, hangar sleeves 28 and 30, and support sleeve 62, and joining the elements together. For example, support sleeve 62 is formed by attaching two layers of fabric along three sides, inserting rigid member 64, and then attaching to the bottom edge of back 16. With respect to the formation of body 12, any pocket 50 is attached to inside of back 16. Front 14 and back 16 are then attached together along bottom seam 18 and side seams 20 and 22. Squared edges for bottom of bag 10 may be created by stitching bottom seam 18 to side seams 20 and 22. The upper edge of body 12 is then folded over to form a hemline, and straps 50 and 52 are attached to the hemline. A support band 84 may further be attached to the hemline to strengthen the attachment of straps 50 and 52. With respect to hanger sleeves 28 and 30, first members 32 and 34 are preferably formed by stitching together two layers of material such that any printed sides face outwardly in both directions. Those of skill in the art should recognize that the various elements of bag 10 may be formed from one or more layers of material. For example, when printed fabric is used to construct bag 10, multiple plies will likely be desired for first members 32 and 34 of hanger sleeves 28 and 30, as both sides of hanger sleeves 28 and 30 may be visible pending on the configuration of bag 10. Second members 36 and 38 are then stitched to first members 32 and 34, leaving wide aperture 40 and narrow aperture 42. Hanger sleeves 28 and 30 are then individually stitched to front 14 and back 16 via first members 32 and 34, respectively, being careful to leave wide aperture 40 free. Fasteners 54 and 56 may then be attached at the designated locations.

When using two hangers, each hanger should be slid into each of hanger sleeves 28 and 30. Straps 50 and 52 may be looped over the hook of each hanger to keep them out of the way when bag 10 is hanged in a closet or on a rod. Bag opening 26 may then be placed in the open position or closed position by engaging fasteners 54 and 56. Alternatively, one hanger may be slid into one of hanger sleeves 28 or 30, and both straps 50 and 52 looped over the hook of the single hanger to keep them out of the way when bag 10 is hanged in a closet or on a rod. If hanging in place using one of straps 50 or 52, bag 10 may be in the open or closed position. If both straps 50 or 52 are used, bag 10 will likely be in the closed position.

Bag 10 thus allows a user to simply drop laundry therein for storage and, when the laundry is ready for transportation, bag 10 may be closed and used to transport the laundry. Bag 10 may also be easily transported empty, such as when traveling, as it may be easily folded and placed in a suitcase for later used. 

1. A hanging laundry bag, comprising: a first side; a second side interconnected to said first side to form an enclosure having a opening; and at least one hanger sleeve comprising a triangularly shaped pouch having a cavity therein, a first aperture permitting access to said cavity positioned formed along one edge of said sleeve, and a second aperture permitting access to said cavity formed at the apex of said sleeve, wherein said sleeve is interconnected to said first side proximate to said opening.
 2. The bag of claim 1, further comprising at least one set of fasteners interconnected to said enclosure.
 3. The bag of claim 2, further comprising at least one strap interconnected to said enclosure.
 4. The bag of claim 3, wherein said at lease one hanger sleeve is dimensioned to accept a hanger.
 5. The bag of claim 4, wherein said first aperture is wider than said second aperture.
 6. The bag of claim 5, wherein said first and second sides are interconnected together along three sides by a single seam.
 7. The bag of claim 6, further comprising a pocket positioned within said enclosure.
 8. The bag of claim 1, further comprising a liner that is adapted for selective engagement with said enclosure.
 9. The bag of claim 1, further comprising a rigid member positioned in the bottom of said enclosure.
 10. A hanging laundry bag, comprising: a first side; a second side interconnected to said first side to form an enclosure having a opening; a first hanger sleeve interconnected to said first side; a second hanger sleeve interconnected to said second side; a first strap interconnected to said first side; a second strap interconnected to said second side; at least one set of fasteners interconnected to said first side and said second side for releasably closing said opening of said enclosure; and a rigid member positioned in the bottom of said enclosure.
 11. The bag of claim 10, further comprising a pocket positioned within said enclosure.
 12. The bag of claim 11, wherein said at least one set of fasteners are magnetic.
 13. The bag of claim 10, wherein said first hanger sleeve comprises a triangularly shaped pouch having a cavity therein, a first aperture permitting access to said cavity positioned formed along one edge of said sleeve, and a second aperture permitting access to said cavity formed at the apex of said sleeve.
 14. The bag of claim 13, wherein said first hanger sleeve is interconnected to said first side along one edge of said pouch.
 15. The bag of claim 14, wherein said apex of said first hanger sleeve is opposite said edge of said pouch that is interconnected to said first side.
 16. The bag of claim 15, wherein said first hanger sleeve is dimensioned to accept a hanger.
 17. The bag of claim 16, wherein said second hanger sleeve comprises a triangularly shaped pouch having a cavity therein, a first aperture permitting access to said cavity positioned formed along one edge of said sleeve, and a second aperture permitting access to said cavity formed at the apex of said sleeve.
 18. The bag of claim 17, wherein said second hanger sleeve is interconnected to said second side along one edge of said pouch.
 19. The bag of claim 18, wherein said apex of said second hanger sleeve is opposite said edge of said pouch that is interconnected to said second side.
 20. The bag of claim 19, wherein said second hanger sleeve is dimensioned to accept a hanger. 